Ryan Gilmartin, award winning actor and writer joins Dylan in the first 'Proper Chat' episode of Tales From The Otherwood. Ryan talks about his theatrical show 'Henry VIII Used to Hate Us' a performance all about Lincolnshire history, music, food and folklore! Both Dylan and Ryan discuss the magic of storytelling and theatre, how the folklore of your hometown can explain a lot about where you came from and how is it you never really appreciate where you are from until you've left it? 'Henry VIII...
Jun 03, 2025•49 min
Dylan takes a slightly different approach with this month's story. Firstly, he recorded this unscripted and secondly, rather than a chat regarding the folklore around the Wise Men of Gotham, he incorporates the folklore into the story. In the time of King John, two envoymen ride ahead to explore the Nottinghamshire village of Gotham (It's said "Go-tum" around here!) to make sure it is safe for HRH to travel through safely.... what they weren't prepared for were people trying to capture summer-br...
Apr 25, 2025•20 min
Due to technical issues, this episode is out late- better late than never! In this month’s episode Dylan reads the two poems inspired by the events of the Gamesters. That’s right, this is a sequel episode! Thomas Hardwicke Rawnsley’s ‘The Three Revellers; or Impiety Punished- A Legend of Holbech- A True Story’ (Written around 1800): https://tellinghistory.co.uk/content/three-revellers-or-impiety-punished-legend-holbech-true-story-thomas-hardwicke-rawnsley-1789 Eliza Cook’s ‘The Sacrilegious Game...
Mar 28, 2025•23 min
It’s an old classic- three men walk into a bar and decide to give their dead friend’s corpse one last card game- oh, wait! You mean you HAVEN’T heard that one? This Lincolnshire story was based on something that really happened! Despite being kept from the 18th Century press, it seems local gossip about the event not only inspired different versions but even two poems by classical writers in the 19th Century! This month's chat discusses the multiple variations of this tale as well as the two poe...
Feb 28, 2025•26 min
We're back in Nottingham! And a poor little girl is taken in by a witch.... what could possibly go wrong? This month's chat discusses East Midland folklore on cress, gooseberry bushes and apple trees; what has the apple got to do with with both Halloween AND Christmas in Nottinghamshire? You'll have to listen and find out! Also, I shall be looking into the hypothesis of whether or not witches, fairies and ghosts are in fact the same thing..... As promised in the episode, here is the link to my b...
Dec 20, 2024•30 min
Love conquers all..... or does it? How can a simple and honest thing such as love destroy a whole town in Wales? A whole episode as requested by regular listener, Nik. This month's tale involves love, murder and, of course, a curse. This month's chat discusses the folklore associated with Kenfig and Kenfig Pool. If you'd like to learn more about the rich history of Kenfig, you can do so here: https://kenfigorg.wordpress.com/ And if you would like to know more about Kenfig Pool as a destination y...
Oct 30, 2024•25 min
In this tale from the Ojibwe First Nation we encounter something that strikes fear even into the bravest of hearts. When a warrior and his family are trying to survive a harsh winter, the warrior goes in search of food but encounters instead his worst fear: The Wendigo! Which will kill him first: The oncoming snow storm or the man-eating spirit before him? This story was selected by my good friend, fellow blogger and horror author Aspasia S. Bissas. You can order her books online and please do v...
Sep 13, 2024•29 min
In this Derbyshire set tale, a minister from Ashbourne makes his journey to carry on the Lord's Work despite the setbacks that have already presented themselves. Seeking shelter in a dilapidated house, the minister finds not all the residents are of this world.... This month's chat discusses not only fairy lore in Derbyshire, but as the story takes place on the last day of October, we also discuss Derbyshire customs on and around Halloween! Yes, it is a bit strange discussing Halloween in July, ...
Jul 16, 2024•35 min
This Northamptonshire tale is in regards of a very curious building called the Triangular Lodge. On the grounds of Rushton Hall, it is in fact, younger than the hall itself. However, this also means that because of its unusual shape, it has inspired many tales all of its own! Towards the end of the 18th Century, the 6th Viscount Cullen is showing off his inherited home to a friend of his.... until the friend finds an entryway into a mysterious tunnel in the cellar of the lodge! Who will go down ...
Jun 14, 2024•36 min
I've always wanted to cover a vampire story..... and here it is! Set in Hungary, 1725, the villagers of Medveða are being haunted by one of their own who died a sudden death! Keeping one of the undead down is hard enough, what happens when others start being attacked? The Chat section discusses the two government investigations that brought the "Vampire" to European infamy, it also challenges what we think we know about these blood sucking creatures and where our beliefs came from. WARNING: Due ...
May 13, 2024•33 min
Now 10 years old, young Jeffery is sent as part of an envoy for Queen Henrietta Maria to her home country of France. Jeffrey will learn what it is to be loved and adored and yet..... events beyond his control will teach him a stark reminder of what the outside world away from the royal courts is truly like. If this is the first time you have found this podcast (Greetings and welcome!), scroll until you see 'Jeffrey Hudson: The Boy in the Pie' before listening to this one. CONTENT WARNING: This e...
Mar 04, 2024•23 min
In the depths of Lincolnshire, time was that the coming of Spring was hurried with certain rituals to the spirits of the land. People looked for the Green Mist, for only on its arrival was Winter truly over. The Green Mist is a tale that warns about things unseen that are always listening.... The Chat section discusses Boggarts, bogles and ancient field rites from Anglo-Saxon times. There is also an update on the previous tale The Boggart and the Farmer. Send us a text You can contact Dylan by e...
Feb 02, 2024•28 min
Yuletide greetings and cheer! Back home in Nottinghamshire, this month's tale sees King Henry II getting himself lost whilst hunting in Sherwood Forest.... until he meets a very strange individual indeed. December's chat includes a talk about wassailing. So grab yourself a mulled wine, put your feet up and enjoy this winter tale of hospitality, generosity and friendship. Wassail! Send us a text You can contact Dylan by email on: talesfromtheotherwood@gmail.com And Instagram: @tales_from_the_othe...
Dec 23, 2023•27 min
In her home village of Birstall, Leicestershire, Katie learns to her horror that the stories surrounding the haunting of Black Lane by a black ghostly hound might not just simply be a ghost story..... The Chat section of this month's episode examines the differences between a Black Dog and a Barguest in folklore as well as what the two share in their characteristics. Send us a text You can contact Dylan by email on: talesfromtheotherwood@gmail.com And Instagram: @tales_from_the_otherwood Or even...
Nov 04, 2023•20 min
The people of Wantley in South Yorkshire have a problem. A BIG problem! There's a dragon eating everything and everyone and the local knight to protect them is a foul mouthed drunk. This is a reading of the bawdy tale as recorded by Bishop Percy's 1767 book Reliques of Ancient English Poetry and contains the rude language from the time. Sensitive listeners or those with children might want to skip the reading of the Ballad and go straight to the chat (Skip to 12:25). This month's chat covers som...
Oct 02, 2023•28 min
WARNING! This episode contains Dylan singing and therefore contains a Government health warning...... You have been warned, therefore all side effects are your own responsibility. The Derby Ram is a favourite English folk song, but what has it got to do with people dressing up as animals, Christmas, and links to a Scandinavian creation myth? The Chat discusses the song and 'The Old Tup' as well as the Viking Eddas. For further details of Dylan storytelling live at the Tiny Event Tent in Woodhous...
Sep 02, 2023•20 min
In this Northamptonshire tale, a poor farmer starts working on his small plot of land only to find it is haunted by a menacing and ugly boggart.... will the farmer be driven away? Or does he have what it takes to deal with the supernatural forces that have presented themselves? This episode's chat talks about the difference between brownies, bogles and boggarts as well as some ancient harvest rituals. Also, one of my cats makes a guest appearance, so be sure to listen out! Send us a text You can...
Aug 02, 2023•21 min
Richard III comes to Leicester to stay at the reputable White Boar Inn before going to war. Only for him to be approached by a mysterious woman with strange news indeed.... This month's chat involves talking about "Cunning Folk" and who these mysterious people were. Send us a text You can contact Dylan by email on: talesfromtheotherwood@gmail.com And Instagram: @tales_from_the_otherwood Or even "Send Us a Text Message" link at the bottom of the description! Please don't forget to follow this pod...
Jul 03, 2023•20 min
This episode was recorded and produced whilst on holiday in Madeira! So it’s only appropriate that for this episode I found a story from Madeira. This story was found online with a passage from the book ‘Madeira Folktales and Legends’ by José Viale Moutinho. A rich traveller from Madeira stays in a local hotel and encounters the supernatural with a very different approach than most people would….. with consequences on his soul! I would like to point out that I wanted to do a Madeira story in res...
Jun 02, 2023•10 min
The year is 1626 and it's the reign of King Charles I. The Duke of Buckingham has rivalry to the left of him, jealousy to the right, and here he is: stuck in the middle with too much going on.... yet he is about to completely transform the life of one VERY small boy forever. 'The Boy in the Pie' is the first in the Jeffrey Hudson series, which will span a total of four episodes. One for the next few times we cover Rutland. Did you know about Rutland's unique practice with horseshoes? Well, you'd...
May 06, 2023•20 min
This month sees us take a detour from the East Midlands and straight to Dylan's native Sheffield. Here we encounter the story of a very sorry woodman who not only has a lot of trees to fell in one day, but he's lost his axe! With missing tools and others that fall apart and the fact he seem's to have awoken a water fairy, can he finish his work? In the chat that follows, we'll be discussing the little known lore of fairies in South Yorkshire and the possible pagan history of one of Sheffield's f...
Apr 02, 2023•16 min
The year is 1092 and the very first Bishop of Lincoln is looking forward to seeing the cathedral completed.... only it seems to have attracted the attention on unholy eyes. Dylan tells this story of spiritual warfare, mischievous entities and how throwing salt over your shoulder just might stop you from being dragged to Hell! Send us a text You can contact Dylan by email on: talesfromtheotherwood@gmail.com And Instagram: @tales_from_the_otherwood Or even "Send Us a Text Message" link at the bott...
Mar 02, 2023•21 min
A farmer and his wife are aghast to learn they have been burgled! Not only have their valuables been stolen, there's no sign of how nor whom has taken them..... when all obvious steps have been explored and even the local police can't help, who you gonna call? The Wizard of Lincoln of course! Join Dylan in a tale of theft, shapeshifting, shadow magic and magpies! This story is set on the border between Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, meaning we get to look at folklore from both counties in the...
Feb 02, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Robin Hood wants to attend mass on a very holy day in Nottingham, even if the Sheriff is watching out for him. Little John wins a bet of five shillings, but this leads to Robin's capture! Listen and find out how Little John sets on a daring, cheeky and bloodthirsty mission to get his friend out of gaol. Dylan Knight tells the earliest published story of Robin Hood, meaning there are no well-mannered outlaws and this is definitely NOT a Disney cartoon! Send us a text You can contact Dylan by emai...
Dec 30, 2022•31 min
